Grain-car door.



PATENTED 00T. 27, 1903.`

C. L. ROBBINS.

GRAIN GAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.16. 1902.

SHEETS-salam 1.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATESA ratented october 2f?, 190s.

PATENT OFFICE;

GRAIN-CAR DOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 742,744, dated October 27,

Application led October 16, 1902. Serial No. 127.471. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoRDILLERAs L. ROB- BINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pekin, in the county of'TaZewell and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and 'useful Improvements in Grain- Car Doors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

This invention relates particularly to that class of grain-car doors which slide sidewise into a casing on the side wall of the car.

|The object of the invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction of such doors.

A further object is to provide an improved gate or valve for the door to let out that part of the grain which presses against the door preliminary to opening the door. i

A further object is to form an improved roller device for carrying the door and to provide a strip to fill the groove in the door-sill when the door is slid back to keep the grain from clogging the groove and preventing tight closure of the door.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a freight-car, parts being in section. Fig. 2 is an inside elevation with the door in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section. Fig. 4 is an inside View, in elevation, of a modification; and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the side of the car, and 7. the floor thereof.

9 is a grain-tight casing formed on the inside of the car-wall to receive the door when it is opened. The door 8 slides sidewise in a groove formed in the door-sill 8b on rollers 10, which are journaled in the kcar-frame under the groove. The door may be formed of wood or metal, or both, and projecting from its lower front corner is a strip 8, which slides with the door on the rollers. The groove is continued beyond the door-opening on the side opposite the said casing to receive the strip when the door is closed, inasmuch as the strip, sliding with the door, must liind a place when the door is closed. The strip is preferably made of metal and fits the groove in the door-sill neatly and flush with the top thereof. When the door is opened, the strip fills the groove, and grain is thereby prevented from clogging the groove and from falling into the spaces in which the rollers work. Hence the rollers can be placed under the door at the door-sill, and the door can be easily operated.

The lower part of the door has a series of openings 8 to let out that part 0f the grain which presses against the door preliminary to opening the same. These openings are controlled by a sliding gate 11, which is held in a rabbet formed in the door, as shown in the cross-sectional views, so as not to increase the width thereof. Hangers 11a, formed of thin metal, support the gate. The gate is operated by lever 12, pivoted at 12a to the door to slide the gate to and fro and cover or uncover the openings. These projecting parts, vthe hangers and the lever, are on the outside of the door, leaving the inside perfectly smooth, so that it may be made to fit closely against the casing and prevent grain from getting into the casing. A ring-latch 8d, fitting over a pin 13a on top of the doorpost 13, holds the door shut when desired.

In theconstructions shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the casing 9 need be only high enough and long enough to contain the door.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the door is hung by hangers 14 with rollers 14.a from a track 15 above the doorway and the casing extends to the top of the car. Since in this form the rollers under the door are not used, the strip sliding with the door is not necessary, although it may well be used if the doorbe made to slide in a groove in the sill instead of upon the sill or floor.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a door-frame having a groove in the sill and rollers under the groove, of a' sliding door on the rollers, and

IOO

a projecting rigid strip fastened to the lower edge of the door, sliding and supported upon the rollers and lling the groove when the door is open.

2. The combination with a doorframe havtion and controlling said opening, and a pro- 4ing a groove in the sill, of a. door sliding in jecting strip filling the groove at the lower the groove, and a. projecting rigid strip at edge of the door and sliding with the door to the lower edge of the door, sliding therewith cover the rollers when the door is opened.

5 andflling the groove when the dooris opened. In testimony whereof I alx my signature I 5 3. The combination with aldoor-frame havin presence of two witnesses. ing rollers under the sill, of a door sliding on CORDILLERAS L. ROBBINS. the rollers and having its lower portion're- Witnesses: duced or rabbeted, with an opening therein, T. H. HIERONYMUS,

1o a, sliding gate supported in the reduced por- R. N. GORSUCH. 

